Top Summer Risks and Tips to Avoid Them

Summer is in full swing and that means pool parties, days on the lake, backyard BBQs, and magical evenings ablaze with spectacular fireworks displays. Unfortunately, summer is also the season for accidents and insurance claims to soar right alongside the temperatures.

Check out our Summertime Safety Guide Infographic and keep reading to find out which of your favorite summertime activities comes with an increased risk for bodily injuries and property damage as well as tips to stay safe this season.

Boating Accidents

Whether it’s a slow day of relaxing on your fishing boat or pushing your speedboat to the (posted) limit, boating is a great way to unwind and have fun in the summer.

Boating accidents that lead to property damage, injury, and death can happen at any time, and usually take the form of a collision with a recreational vehicle, collision with a fixed object, flooding, grounding, or a fall overboard.

You may think you’re a seasoned watercraft operator, but there are many factors that contribute to accidents on the water.

In 2017, the top 5 primary contributing factors for boating accidents were:

Operator inattention

Improper lookout

Operator inexperience

Alcohol use

Excessive speed

Boat Safer

Pay attention. Operator inattention is the #1 cause of boating accidents. And avoid alcohol while operating your watercraft. Alcohol use is the #3 contributing factor for all boating accidents, and it’s the #1 contributing factor for boating fatalities.

What You Need to Know About Boating Insurance

While homeowner’s insurance can provide some limited coverage for certain watercraft in certain situations, boating insurance offers the best coverage for your vessel, your financial investment, and the people you take out on the water.

What does boating insurance cover?

Your boat: Protect your watercraft from collisions with other boats or objects

Liability: Protect yourself from lawsuits if you’re responsible for someone’s injury or damage to their boat

Safe boating practices can go a long way to reduce your risk on the water this summer. Boating insurance can provide a safety net in the event something does go wrong with your boat or watercraft.

Boating isn’t the only water-related risk in the summer. Staying home can be equally dangerous.

Pool Parties

Is there anything more quintessentially “summer” than the pool party? Whether you have a few friends over to take a quick dip or love to host huge get-togethers for the entire clan, a pool party can be a fun and refreshing way to beat the heat.

It can also be a great way to get into big trouble.

According to the World Health Organization, drowning is a leading cause of unintentional deaths worldwide. In the U.S. alone an average of 3,536 people die each year from drowning. That’s about 10 drowning deaths each day.

Kids are at the most risk for drowning.

According to the CDC, drowning is the #1 cause of death for children ages 1 - 4.

For every child in the US who drowns, 5 other receive emergency care for swimming pool injuries.

75% of drowning deaths in children under the age of 15 occurred at a swimming pool located at a private residence, such as a home pool or neighbor’s pool.

What factors contribute to drowning risk?

The CDC has found that the main factors that affect drowning risk are:

Lack of swimming ability

Lack of barriers, such as pool fencing/ isolation fences

Lack of close supervision

Alcohol use

Prevent Pool-related Accidents

Make sure your home swimming pool is safe. Install four-sided fencing that completely separates the pool area from the house and the yard. The CDC recommends pool fencing that is at least 4-feet high, has self-closing and self-latching gates that open outward with latches that are out of reach of children.

Stay alert. A responsible adult should supervise all children swimming or playing in/ around the water. Drowning can happen in an instant, so good supervision means not multitasking when watching children in the pool. Save the book, phone, or other activities until another adult is “on duty.”

Swimming lessons and CPR skills save lives. Taking part in formal swimming lessons can reduce the risk of drowning in young children (ages 1 - 4). CPR lessons can help adults and older children/ teens save lives in the event of a drowning.

What You Need to Know About Insurance for Pools

Homeowner's insurance generally includes a liability coverage to protect you against financial claims for third-party injuries that occur on your property.

If you have a pool, you may want to consider increasing the liability portion of your homeowner’s insurance policy. If you have $300,000 in liability coverage before you have a pool installed, for example, you may want to consider an increase to $500,000 - or even more, if you have considerable assets to protect.

If someone is injured in or near your pool during one of your summertime pool parties, there is a real risk that a lawsuit could follow. Medical bills and legal bills can quickly add up. You can increase the protection of your homeowner’s insurance coverage with an umbrella policy.

Umbrella insurance kicks in when you’ve reached the limits of your underlying liability policy. Many homeowners can get a $1 million personal umbrella policy for around $150 to $300 a year, making this a smart investment to protect your financial assets against possible poolside perils.

Fireworks

It’s going to take a bit more than sunscreen to ensure you don’t get burned this summer. The US Fire Administration and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) warn that careless handling of fireworks can pose a big summertime risk.

Fireworks Dangers

Fireworks were involved in an estimated 11,100 emergency department-treated injuries in 2016

7,600 of these injuries occurred between June 18, 2016 and July 18, 2016

Young adults 20-24 years of age have the highest rate of emergency-department injuries

An average of 7.1 deaths per year are related to fireworks

Most fireworks-related injuries were associated with misuse or malfunction of fireworks. Misuse included improperly setting off fireworks, mischief, lighting fireworks in one’s hand, and placing and lighting fireworks inside one’s body part. Fireworks malfunctions can include tip-over incidents, short fuses, errant flight paths, and fragments/ debris.

Not only do fireworks pose a threat of bodily injury, they can also be a big risk for property damage, as well.

Fireworks start an average of 18,500 fires per year, including 1,300 structure fires, 300 vehicle fires, and 16,900 outdoor fires, according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).

Practice Fireworks Safety

Be safe around fireworks. NFPA recommends that all consumers avoid personal use of fireworks, and urges you to see a show put on by professionals, instead. Even sparklers can cause serious burns and injuries - they account for nearly one-quarter of all emergency room fireworks injuries.

Grill and Barbecue Accidents

From 2011 - 2015, U.S. fire departments responded to an average of 9,600 home fires involving gas grills, hibachis, or barbecues per year. That number included an average of 4,100 structure fires causing an average of 10 deaths, 160 injuries, and $133 million in property damage, NFPA reports. July is the peak month for grill fires.

How to Grill Safer

In roughly one of every five grill fires, the grill had not been properly cleaned. In 11% of home fires, an outside wall caught fire near a grill. Gas grills are the leading cause of home grill fires, resulting in 82% of fires. Charcoal or other solid fuel grills are responsible for 14% of home fires.

Position grills away from the home to reduce the risk of a fire. Keep your grill clean and pay extra attention when using gas grills.

Prevent grill-related injuries by keeping children away from grills. Children under the age of 5 account for one-third of the 1,600 annual grill-related emergency department-treated injuries.

Protect Your Home Against Damage from Fireworks and Grills

Homeowner's insurance and umbrella insurance are once again a good safety net against outdoor grilling and fireworks accidents. Fires are generally covered under a standard homeowner’s insurance policy. If you want additional protection above and beyond the limits of your homeowner’s policy, an umbrella policy can give you $1 million in additional coverage - or more.

What if you don’t own your home? Renters insurance could help you protect your belongings in the event of a fire at the home you rent. While your landlord’s homeowner’s insurance protects the structure itself, it typically won’t cover your personal items inside. If an errant firework set the home you rent ablaze, only renters insurance could help you replace your furniture, electronics, sporting goods, clothing, and other possessions if they were damaged in the fire.

Stay Safe This Summer

Being aware of summer-specific risks can go a long way toward helping you stay safe this summer. Be thoughtful and prepared as you go out on the water, float in your pool, and host friends and family for parties and barbecues at your home. Talk to the insurance professionals at Aegis Insurance Markets about your specific summertime risks and the ways you can put your insurance policies to work protecting you and your family as the temperatures soar.